Trip mechanism for printing-presses.



c. J. ROBERTSON." TRIP MECHANISM FOR PRINTING RESSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25,"1914.

Patented Aug. 18

. Iraazz UNITED sTATEs ra' rnnr orator;

CHARLES J. ROBERTSON, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS & MANUFACTURING COIJKPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRIP MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed March 25, 1914. Serial No. 827,039,

To all 2.0/1 am it may concern lle it known that I, CHARLES JAMES Ron- ERTSON, a subject of the King of England, residing at "launtcn, in the county of Bustol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Trip Mechanism for Printing-Presses, of

pression trip mechanism that there may be a trip {or the impression of the inked form upon the transfer surface. and also a sep-- arate and distinct trip that may be differently timed 3 hr the impression of the trans-r ier surface upon the material to be printed; and at the same time disturbing the position of the axis of the transter-surfaee-can rying member only. This latter provision avoids complications in sheet handling and inkingarrangements which would ensue should either the sheet carrying member or the form carrying member be disturbed in position in the act of tripping, the term tripping, being employed herein in the sense of interrupting the regular contact between the cylinders to intermit the normal printing operation.

in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed description based thereon is set forth in a diagranunatic manner and by way of illustration only a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other and varied constructional forms without departure from its essence or material sacrifice of its advantages.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawings is that of a single revolution cylinder rotary offset printing press wherein sheets of paper and the like are printed through the medium of an offset cylinder from a design carried by a lithographic metal plate upon a form carrying cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the form carrying cylinder, 2 the offset cyl indcr having the usual rubber blanket, and 3 the impression or paper cylinder. The ink is supplied to the form cylinder from a fountain by ink rolls 4 as is usual and provision is made. though not shown, for dampening in the usual manner. The sheets of paper are fed from feed board at?) togrippers (S on the impression cylinder 3, printed by rubber transfer and thence given up to delivery cylinder 7 and delivered, all as usual. It will be noted that the sheet is shown as occupying about 160 of the cylinder 3, the rest of the time being used to feed sheets.

in cases Where all the cylinders, in the example shown, are single revoluticn, when printing is progressing no trip or throw off mechanism is needed, the three cylinders all rotating on fixed axes, but in inkingalp, and particularly in cases of mi's-fed sheets, the impression throwing oil. A convenient and accessible arrangement of the, three cylinders, as that shown, gives the resuit that the period oftime during which the inked form is transferring the design to the rubber t ansfer surface is not coincident with the period of time during which the design being printed upon the paper. Consequently it desirable, when the operator tiuds a misfeed entails a trip that, whereas the rubber must not print that re olution, yet the plate must ccmple'tcthe de sign on the rubber so that the first sheet printed after the trip shall be ,perfect. That is to say, the two operations of transferring and printing being sequential, the trip and return of each should be sequential. Therefore, the two separate trips use two difi'erent directions of movement 01 the offset cylinder axis. The path of movement of the axis of the offset cylinder in one direction so selected as to keep its distance. relation constant to the form cylinder and varying to 'the impression cyliiider for the paper trip and the other patof its movement constant to the impress oir cylinder and aryin to the form cylinder for the plate trip. The cam rollers8 and 9 are used one for each trip to operate each a separate rockshaft 10, 11 and each to move the offset cylinder 2 in one of its-paths of movement independent of the other path.

In the drawings a paper impression trip cam 12 is shown upon the impression cylin der 3 operating the ram lever 13 which fulcrunied at. 14 to the framing. while a simplicity of drawing and explanation, I have shown the paper trip cam on the impression cylinder and the plate trip cam on the form cylinder. But it 18 to be noted that 'one cam can readily be used for both, the only requisite being that the respectivecam levers -.and their cam rollers be located around the center of the cam so that the one cam" may act upon thetwo trips one after the other with the necessary number of degrees rotation between. In such a case the links would need slight rearrang ng so that if "impression on IS low part on one cam for one trip, it would be the same for the other, as the links are shown impression off "low dwell of paper-impression-trip cam corresponds to impression off high dwell of plate-impression-trip cam.

The impression cylinder 3 is journaled in boxes 18 mounted in the framing and adjuSted to and from offset cylinder 2 by screws 19, to alter the amount of pressure be tween rubber and paper. In operation the impression cylinder boxes 18 are fixed. The plate cylinder 1 is journaled in boxes 20, mounted in the framing and adjusted to and from the oil'set cylinder 2 by screws 21 to alter the amountof pressure between plate and rubber. In operation the form cylinder boxes 20 are fixed.

The offset cylinder 2 is journaled ineccen- ;trics 22 employed to throw off and on the impression between the rubber and the paper and the centers of the'outside of these eccentries 22 are located relatively to the line of centers of the form-cylinder 1 and the offset cylinder 2 so that the path of movement of the axis of the offset cylinder 2'is normal to this line of centers, and thus offset cylinder 2 moves to and from the impression cylinder 3 without altering its distance from the form or plate cylinder 1. when, moved by eccentrics 22. The eccentrics 22 in turn are mounted in sliding boxes 23 sliding in the frame in a direction normal to the line of centers of the impression cylinder 3 and the offset cylinder 2 so that the cylinder 2 may be moved to and from the cylinder 1 without altering its distance from .the cylinder 3. This sliding is effected by the ttctiiin of the eccentrics 24. formed with trunnions journaled in brackets 25 bolted to the frame, and upon these eccentrics 24 are boxes 26 sliding in lots in the boxes 23 which latter slots are at right angles to the direction of sliding of the box 23 in the framing.

Levers 27, links 28, and levers 29 connect the plate eccentrics 24 on both sides of the rose to rock shaft 11 across the press. Levers 30, links 3.1, and levers 32 connect the paper eccentrics 22 on both sides of the press to the rock shaft 10 across the press. L nk 33 connects the paper can lever 13 in a lever 33 which mr-illates freely upon the rock shaft 10 and has integral with it a. stud 3.4.

Link 35 connects plate cam lever 16 to a lever 36 which oscillates freely upon rock shaft 11. This lever 36 has integral with it and oscillating together with it a stud 37. Now it will be seen that upon providing for coupling and uncoupling, (at will but in proper time) the stud 34 on lever 33 with the rock shaft 10 and the stud 37 on lever 36 with rock shaft 11, a connection will be set up between each of the impression trip cams and its respective eccentric so as to trip that impress-ion independently of the others. Also fastened to the rock shafts 10 and 11 are impression restoring 'abutments 38 and 39, and preferably integral with these impression restoring abutments 38 and 39 are levers 40 and 41 carrying studs 42 and 43 upon which are hung loosely, under control of gravity, impression removing abutments 44 and 45. weighted at 46 and 47 and having tails 4S and 49 as shown. \Vhen cam 12 Moves stud 34 to contact with the impression restoring abutment 38, impression removing abutment 44 will fall under the in' fluence of weight 46 and, swinging upon stud 42, will engage the stud 34 closely between the two abutments 38 and 44 provided there is then no obstacle in the way of the tail 48. If this coupling occurs, it is evident that movement from cam 12 will be transmitted through link 33 and stud 34 to abutment 44 and the impression between paper and rubber will be tripped by the rocking of shaft 10 and the movement of eccentric 22. In the same way when cam 15 moves stud 37 to contact with 39 impression removing abutment 45 will fall by reason of the weight 47 swinging on 43 and will engage stud 37 closely between 39 and 45 provided no obstacle is then in the way of the tail 49, and if this coupling occurs the cam 15 will, through link 35, stud 37, and abutment 45, came impression between plate and rubber to be tripped by the rocking of shaft 11 and moving of sliding boxes 23.

Pivoted to the frame, adjacentshaft 10, is a doubled ended lever 50 carrying a stud 51 which at times acts as an obstacle in the way, of the tail 48 on impression removing abub meat 44 and prevents the same from full ing, and also pivotedto the frame adjacent shaft 11 is a double ended lever 52 carrying stud 53 whichlat times acts as the obsta le in the way of the tail 49 on impression relnoving abutment 45 and prevents it from falling.

Passing through feeder platform 54 and guided by it is a pedal 55 for the o erator to use in trippin impression. W ion he finds he has misfe a sheet, he depresses the pedal and holds his foot on till cam .12 has moved stud 34 over against impression to storing abutment. 33 when. obstacle stud 5i having by his a tion been renmvcd. lhc impression removing abutment. 44 falls and engages 34 between 38 and 44 and cam 12 proceeds to trip -imprcssion.

It will be i notedthat at any inst-ant \vhile printing is stud will be removed and impression trip abntm'cnts {l t-and will befree to fall as soonta'sthe-respective cam 12 or 15 carries thhe stud 34 .or 37 clear as its own time arrives The exigencies of misfeeding will determine the, time of clepressing the pedal near enough to avoid depressing it too late to trip the "paper yet early enough to tri the plate. 'w r r 1 he 'pedal'55 is on the u per end of the pedal rod 56 passing throng and guided by tlie feeder platform 54 ilnd also passing through 2!. lug 570m frame. This lug 57 acts as an abutment for the spring 58 which pushes up on a collar 59 fast to the rod 56 and tends torestore the pedal 55 to its upper limit as fixed by the collar (50. The lower end of pedal rod is articulated to the free end of lever 61 which in turn is fast, to short shaft (:SApassing through the frame. The inner end of shaft 62 is pro vided with a lever-63 thus forming a ,bell

' crank. Rod 64 connectsdonble-endedlever siti on shown on "part of cam 15 has control ofthe p0si- 50 to bell crank: 63 and thisrod 64 is of fixedjlength. Rod 65 connects to the lower .end'of double ended-lever 52-bya fixed-stud but connects to the lower. end of hell crank 63 .bysuch a connection that it is of fixed length in tension but collapsible in compression by" reason of its sliding" in a'slot '66 through bellcrank 63 under action of a spring't fil iand a c0llar- 68. The st/op- (3th fixes its length underttensioni; a

When in tripping the operator depresses 'thelpedal and'hol'ds it down till ah'utm'cnt 44 andlthen abutment 45 have dropped and started moving their cylinders and then releases it, theisprin 58 being stronger than the spring 67, will try to restore pedal to its upper position against (stop (30. But at this time the cam 12 will hm'e'thc paper impression tripped, the lever 33" and 'stud 34 will haveswung anti-clockwise to their limit, whernalthough the abutment 44 will then engage the stud 34, yet 'it-s tail 48 will clear the stud 51 even. with pedal entirely up because ofithe shape of the bite out of tall 48. Thus double ended lever 50 is free to return at this time to its pedal up powithout. its influencing the trip of the paper impression eccentric, for the rota j on of the cylinder'jeurnalin eccentric boxes 22 will maintain a pressure between the stud. 34 and the abutment 44; Thus 44 can only disconnect when the impression on part of. cam 12 has, control of the p-;-- sition-of the cylinder axis, or when cylinder 2 is printing on cylinder 3. Similarly 45 can only disconnect. ivhen the mums-m tion of the cylinder axis or when cylinder 1 is printing on cylinder 2. Atthe time of releasing the pedal, also, the force of moving, cylinder 2 and its sliding boxes 22-; will come upon the abutment and the spring 58 will not be able to lift 45 out of engagement, and therefore spring (37 will he collapsed and store energy to lift 45 out when time will have come, which will be when the impression on dwell of the plate impression removing cam 15 acting (in eam roller 9.

I claim:

1. In tripping'mechanism for printing.

cylinders in timed sequence to inteimit. the

nm'rnal printing operation, substantially as described.

3. In tripping; mechanism for printing p resses, the combination of a form cylinder and an im ur'ession cylinder harin." fixed axes 7 f rotation, an c-flfset. cylinder shiftable to ward and from each-cf the comphnion cyl inders along a line normal to a line joining its axis with the axis of the other 'of said compan on cylinders, and means for so shifting the offset cylinder as'to trip its operative relation to the companion cylinders in timed s-ze'qnencc, substantially as described.

4 In tripping rnechanisn'l for printing presses, the combination of a form cylinder and an inngressuen cylinder having fixed axes of retaticin an offset cylinder shiftahle't-Q- ward and from each of the companion cylinders alonga line normal to a line joining its axis with the axis of the. ii-tlier ofs'nid com panicn cylinders,andi means for so shift.-

relation to thciimpre'ssicn cylinder and to thelform cylinder in timed sequence and in the order named. substantially 'as described. 5. In t7ippin mechanism for printing the combination of a form cylinder, rcssion cylinder, an interposed fetinder, the form cylinder and impres an ,j set cyh and the offset cylim er shiftahle toward and frcnrthe companion cylinders, and means for tripping the o t'set cylinder from the on cylinder havin fixed axes of rotationf companion cylinders in timed sequence, said trippingmean; comprising; a pair of cocain tries each arranged to shift. the axis-of the offset cylinder 111 one direction. a pairct normally inactiveiii'clr shafts, gearing operatively connecting each of said eccentrics w th one of t'h'e rock shafts, a set of rockshaft-driving mechanism actuated in timed relation to the rotation of each of the formand impression cylinders, and means under the control of the Operator to couple each set of driving mechanism to .its rock shaft, substantially as described. 7.

'6." In tripping mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a form cylinder, animpression cylinder, an interposed offset cylinder, the form. cylindcrand impression 'cylinder'having fixed 'axe sof rotation, and

- of driving mechanismto its rock shaft, the

described.

presses, the comb nation of a. forin cylinroclc shaft driving mechanismseach including an oscillatory stud, and-the coupling means including a latch adapted to engage.

the. stud as an abutmeint, substantiall as 7. In tripping mechanism for printing der; -a'n impression cylinder, an interposed offset-cylinder, the forrrtgcylinder and ii:n'

pressioncylinde'r having fixed axes'ofiotation, and the offset cylinder shiftable toward and from .the' companion cylinders, and means for tripping the offset cylinder from the companion cyliiiders in timed sequence, said tripping means comprising a pair of eccentrics each arranged to shift the axis of the oll'set. cylinder in one direction, a pair of normally inactive rock shafts, gearing opiratively connecting each of said eccentrics with one of the rock shafts, a set of 'i'oclcshafbdriving mechanisms cam acinvited in timed relation .to' the rotation of each ofthe form and impression cylinders, and means under the control of the-operator to couple each 'set of driving mechanisms to its rock shaft, the rock shaft-driving mechanisms each includingan oscillatory stud, and the cou lin means including a latch carried by til engage the stiid as an abutment, and a catch acting to uorinallyhold the latch inoperative, substantially as described.

8. In tripping mechanism for printing 'lresscs, the combination of a f rm cylinder;

an impression cylinder, au oils-etcylinder. the form cylinder and the impression cyle s'iaft and adapted to.

inders having fixed axes of rotation,.t-he offset cylinder mounted in journal boxes slidable in a direction normal to the linejpin-ing its axis with the axis of one of the'cti'mpanion cylinders and shiftable'in said in a direction normal to a line joining itsaxis vith the axis of the other of said' co'inp'an ion cylinders, and means tor so shifting the offset. cylinder in its'journal boxes'and so sliding the journal boxes as to trip-the operativerel'ation of the offset cylinder to its companioii cylinders in timed sequence, substantially as described. i

9. In tripping mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a form cylinder, an impression cylinder, an offset cylinder, the form cylinder and theimpression cyl inders having fixed axes ofrotation, .the offset cylinder mounted in journal boxes slidable in a direction normal to the line joining its axis "with the axis of one of the companion cylinders and shiftable I in said box in a] direction normal to a'line joining its axis with the axis of the otherof said companion cylinders, a pair of eccentrics one arranged to slide the journal boxes of the offset cylinder and the otherto shift the -axi's'o f the cylinder in. the -boxes, and means under thecontrol of the operator to actuate the eccentrics to trip "thefoperative relation of the offset cylinder. to the impres' sion cylinderand to. the tormcylinder-in timed sequence and in the order named, substantially as descri'beds 10; In tripping mechanism for printing presses, the coinbination of a formeylin der,

ioo

an impression cylinder, an offsetcylinder,

the form cylinder and the impression cylin-v ders havingfixed axes of rotation, the offset 7 rock shafts, gearing operatively connectingjlls eachof said eccentrics with one of the rock shafts, a set of roclt shaft-drivi ig mechanism actuated in timed relation to the rotation of each of theform and impression cylinders, and means'ignder the control of the operator to couple each set of driving mechanism to its rock slfiftywhereby to trip the operative relation of the offset cylinder 'to each of the companion cylinders in timed sequence, substantially as described. 11. In tripping mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a formjcylin'der, I an impression cylinder, an olt'set'cylinder, the form cylinderand the impression c'ylin ders havingfixed axes of rotation, theofiset the axis of the other of said companion cylinders, a pair of slide the journal and the other to der in the boxes,

eccentrics one arranged to boxes of the offset cylinder shift the axis of the cylina pair of normally inactive rock shafts, gearing operatively connecting each of said eccentrics with One of the rock shafts, a se't of rock-shaft-driving mechanism cam actuated in timed relation to the rotation of each of the form and impressiou'cylinders, and means under the control of the operator to couple each set of driving mechanism to its rock shaft whereby to trip the I I l operative relation of the offset cylinder to th" impression cylinder and to the form cylinder in timed sequence and in the order named, the rock-shaft-driving mechanisms each including an oscillatory stud, and the coupling means including a latch carried by the shaft. and adapted to engage the stud as an abutment, and a catch acting to normally hold the latch inoperative, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. ROBERTSON Witnesses:

BURT D. STEVENS, \Vmms K. HonoMAN, Jr; 

